Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2008

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of the veteran's service-connected conditions.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The Board found no evidence of current heart or low back disabilities and denied service connection for both conditions.

The veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for service connection of heart disease, but his claim was not timely filed and must be dismissed.,The veteran also seeks an earlier effective date for a 100% disability rating for service-connected heart disease. The RO assigned the current effective date based on the date of filing of his initial claim.

The veteran's heart disease is being remanded for a VA examination to determine if it is at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records and the need to obtain relevant medical evidence from various sources.

The Board found that the veteran's rheumatic fever, arthritis, and coronary artery disease are all related to his service in the United States Army. The decision grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses is remanded to the VAMC for additional development, including a review of whether VA facilities were feasibly available and if all provided care was emergent in nature.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.

The Board found that the veteran's coronary artery disease was not incurred or aggravated during his active duty service and denied the claim.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected conditions did not cause his death, and there was no evidence to support a claim under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for VA treatment resulting in his death.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of heart disease, kidney disease and stroke. The Board also denied secondary service connection for bilateral below the knee amputations due to heart disease.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded for compliance with VCAA notice requirements and further development of the claims.

The Board has granted service connection for aortic stenosis and aortic insufficiency, finding that the medical evidence is at least in equipoise regarding the veteran's current diagnosis of valvular heart disease. The issue of an increased rating for hepatitis C remains pending.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities (type II diabetes mellitus, retinopathy, and coronary artery disease) do not render him unemployable. The Board finds that the evidence does not show he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for heart disease due to new and material evidence. However, it was determined that there is no medical evidence linking his current heart disorder to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cardiovascular disease was not incurred in or aggravated by military service and may not be presumed. The claim of PTSD is denied as new and material evidence has not been received.